U.N. recognizes Palestine as nonmember state

Nov. 30, 2012

A Palestinian youth plays with fireworks in Nablus, West Bank, on Thursday, while Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas speaks to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The U.N. Thursday approved 'state' status for Palestine.

Written by

Oren Dorell
| USA Today

The United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday 138-9 with 41 abstentions to grant Palestine non-member state status.

The vote does not settle outstanding issues with Israel or change anything on the ground, say experts.

"We are here for a final serious attempt to achieve peace," Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas told General Assembly delegates before the vote. "Not to end the negotiation process? rather to breath new life into the negotiation process." ...